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British Press Bureau confirms German loss: WW1 Dispatches

This story was originally published in the Star on Aug. 14, 1914.

By thestar.com

Thu., Aug. 14, 2014

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This story was originally published in the Star on Aug. 14, 1914.

BRITISH PRESS BUREAU CONFIRMS GERMAN LOSS

Official War Bureau Declares Belgians Command the Situation – French Troops Have Occupied the RegioWn of the Saale Pass, Commanding Valley of Bruche.

FRENCH AND BELGIAN STATEMENTS AGREE

Article Continued Below

Special to The Star.

London. Aug. 14—The official war press bureau, in its service to-day, reviewed at some length the operations In Belgium, and confirmed the earlier reports from Brussels of sweeping Belgian victories in the heavy skirmishing that has taken place. The bureau says:

“On Wednesday a German force of six regiments of cavalry, supported by 2,500 infantry and a heavy detachment of artillery with machine guns, moved eastward against the Belgians in an operation directed against the Belgian field headquarters near Louvain. The Belgian cavalry, similarly supported by Infantry and artillery, opposed the German advance. A fight ensued that lasted all day, and covered some fifteen miles of territory. The Belgians, having been apprised of the approach of the enemy by their wire scouts and aviation corps, were entrenched in a commanding position. The Belgian defence was so well maintained that the enemy was completely disorganized and his cavalry badly cut up. Alter shelling the approaching German column the Belgian forces charged. The German cavalry withdrew, leaving many dead and wounded behind, but the German Infantry and artillery column was completely routed, and many prisoners and several guns were captured.

Belgian Army Commands Situation

“On Friday morning the German cavalry division, supported by Infantry and a machine gun column armed with guns mounted on autos was trapped by a force from the Belgian fortifications at Namur which had been sent out to prevent an attack on these forts, The Germans were defeated and driven eastward, the Belgians capturing many prisoners and all of the machine guns.

“To-day (Friday) the Belgian army is in entire command of the situation. The Germans have been driven back at every point of attack and there are now no cavalry of the enemy between Hasselt, north-west of Liege and Ramillies, 19 miles south-west of Louvain. The Liege forts still held untaken. They are well supplied with food and ammunition and their guns in being served with unerring accuracy.

“General Joffre has conferred the first war medal on Corporal of Dragoons Escoffier, and the decoration of the Legion of Honor on Lieut. Bruyant of the Dragoons for conspicuous gallantry in action.

“After a successful resistance lasting five days at the passes of Sainte Marie, Aux Mines, and Le Bonhomme, the French troops have occupied the region of the Saale Pass which commands the valley of the Bruche, an affluent of the Rhine.

“At Saale numerous desertions of German troops are noticed. The French have taken many prisoners and captured some machine guns.”

What Brussels Officials Say

Canadian Press Despatch

London, Aug. 14, 3.55 p.m.—A despatch from Brussels to Reuter’s Agency the following official announcement was issued at noon today:

“The Germans are planning a new movement against us, but all dispositions have been made to repel it like the preceding ones.

“Reports show that the situation continues favorable to us and our allies, while the news from Lorraine is highly favorable to the French.

“The general staff has heard nothing of the reduction of the forts of Liege. Rumors to that effect, therefore, are false.”

“No fact of striking importance took place in the theatre of operations yesterday. There were, however, several skirmishes between German and French patrols and encounters between outposts notably at Chambrey in German Lorraine, where two companies of the 18th Bavarian Infantry regiment were surprised by the French troops and driven off vigorously, leaving numerous dead and wounded on the field.”

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